People's Democratic Army

The People's Democratic Army (PDA) is an armed force under the political leadership of the People's Democratic Organization (PDO). The PDO/PDA was re-formed on November 7, 2022, from the former Burma Phoenix Organization/Burma Phoenix Front (BPO/BPF). The Burma Phoenix Organization was founded on April 1 by some student youths somewhere in Karen State with the aims of (1) uprooting dictatorship in Myanmar, (2) bringing about a genuine federal democratic union, and (3) being able to shape one's own destiny. The young people who led its founding had joined the strikes alongside Ma Kyal Sin (a.k.a. Angel), who was killed in the Myanmar military's crackdown in Mandalay. A letter sent on the first anniversary of the death of Ma Kyal Sin (a.k.a. Angel) states that the Burma Phoenix Organization was formed in honour of her fervent revolutionary spirit.

The Burma Phoenix Organization had close relations with the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF), and after May 2021 released photos of military training and bases in those territories. Then, on August 17, it formed an urban operations committee and carried out guerrilla attacks in Yangon and Mandalay. It then expanded by forming the Urban Burma Phoenix Organization (UBPO) for urban guerrilla work. The UBPO carried out more than eight bombings in Yangon and some guerrilla attacks in Mandalay, including simultaneous bombings at about five locations.  Some UBPO leaders were arrested by the Myanmar military in October 2021. Then, in November 2021, it re-formed as the Burma Phoenix Special Task Force (BPSTF) and continued urban guerrilla work, issuing statements only as the Burma Phoenix Organization (BPO).

From late 2021, the Burma Phoenix Organization began establishing itself in the Sagaing region, clashing with the Myanmar military in the Myinmu and Ayadaw areas. Based in the Ayadaw area, it stood as a Local PDF. At the same time, it continued urban activities in Yangon and Mandalay. It then left its base in Karen State in 2022 and relocated to the dry zone. As an armed battalion, it expanded by forming the Burma Phoenix Front (BPF). It then divided into two military regions, deploying not only in Sagaing but also in the Gangaw area of Magway. In an interview, BPO leader Ko La Pyae said it operated across Sagaing, Magway, Chin and Kachin areas.

Then, on November 7, 2022, the BPO/BPF was re-formed as the People's Democratic Organization/People's Democratic Army (PDO/PDA) with five policies: (1) opposing military dictatorship, (2) achieving genuine democracy, (3) being able to shape one's own destiny, (4) the emergence of an equal society, and (5) achieving genuine peace. It has adopted fighting the "three militaries" as its line, officially declared that line, and works closely with forces fighting along it. It has built close relations with the People's Revolution Front (PRF) and the People's Liberation Army (PLA). It has now built a joint force named Column No. 8 with the People's Revolution Front (PRF) and is fighting.

Column No. 8 was formed on January 24, 2024. Its statement says that before forming Column No. 8, the PRF and the PDO spent about six months in discussions from 2023.

(1) Uprooting military dictatorship (the "three militaries");

(2) Unity and integration of revolutionary forces;

(3) Carrying out mobile warfare;

(4) It is a joint force based on four points, including the liberation of oppressed people. It has formed a military commission and states that it operates as a mobile column without a base camp. From December 2024 it announced that the Student Revolutionary Force (SRF) had joined Column No. 8. Column No. 8 is fighting together with the Student Armed Force (SAF) and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in battles including the Ye Lar Lay battle in Pakokku Township.